The Recorder Department is the official archive, preserving documents related to legally recordable transactions of events. The department provides a public record of ownership and chain of title for all land transactions from 1874-present. The department is responsible for determining the recordability, not the legal sufficiency of all documents presented for recording. All documents presented for recording must pass the examination process that include, but not limited to recordability and legibility. Once a document is recorded, it cannot be unrecorded. The only way the content may be amended is to record another document referencing the prior recording and specifying the change. The department collects documentary transfer tax and conveyance taxes on property sales. Documents are recorded, indexed, digitally archived and made available to the public.

Note: Only Attorneys qualified under California Law are permitted to give legal advise. The Recorder Department is only required to inform the public of what is or is not legally acceptable for recording under state law.  We cannot give legal advise nor advise the public on the type of document needed or how to complete a document. We recommend that you seek advice from an attorney or real estate professional before you record documents that affect title to property.